Firing mechanism for rifles



May 4, 1948.

Y. J. NYVALL ET 1.

FIRING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1944 //W I I I I I t I I l 1| mw MR k wwm awe/WW5 z all May 4, 1948- Y. J. NYVALL ET AL FIRING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES Filed y 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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FIRING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES Filed May 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1948. Y. J. NYVALL ET AL 2,441,029

' FIRING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES I Filed May 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Yngr/e :[MI/QZZ v 2 Thomas 0. Cid/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M Q Wm M W mm J 0 Mi *X F J O. 9% Wm M hm 9w e s I M a N MQNI m m v QM ww T I w M M a kw w 9 kw Rm Q8 mm nm. a. Q wfi m 8 M May 4, 1948. Y. J. NYVALL ET AL FIRING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES Filed May 24, 1944 Patented May 4?, 1948 STES PATNT OFFICE Yngve J. Nyvall, San Pedro, and Thomas 0. Chapman, Glendale, Calif.

Application May 24, 1944, Serial No. 537,162

1 This invention relates to a rifle and particularly pertains to a rifle of the automatic repeater type. An object of the invention is to provide a, rifle of the type in which automatic operation thereof is effected by back pressure of gases developed in the rifle barrel immediately preceding ejection of a bullet from the rifle muzzle, in which the automatic operation may be converted into single fire action and vice versa under the control of the marksman by trigger manipulation, whereby the rifle may be operated at will during firing thereof either to fire a single shot or a burst of shots merely by exerting more or less pull on the trigger.

Another object is to provide a cartridge feed for a rapid fire rifie including a revoluble cylinder to which cartridges may be fed from a magazine or other source controlled by rotation of the cylinder, and in which operation of the cylinder may be effected either manualy or automatically.

Another object is to provide an effective and dependab mechanism associated with the rifle barrel and the cartridge feed cylinder whereby rectilinear movement of a piston under the urge of gas pressure will be converted into intermittent rotary movement of the cylinder to effect feed of cartridges to a firing position.

Another object is to provide a trigger control mechanism for rifles whereby a slight pull on the trigger to an intermediate position will efi'ect firing a single shot while a strong pull on the trigger to a fully retracted position will set the rifle in automatic operation with the rapid firing of successive shots as long as the trigger is retained in its full retracted position, and in which either single fire or rapid fire may be attained selectively at will by varying the position of the trigger from the intermediate to the fully retracted position or vice versa.

Another object is to provide a mechanism in a rifle of the above character embodying few simple parts adapted to be easily fabricated and assembled in a readily accessible arrangement whereby the mechanism may be easily kept in repair and replacements easily and quickly effected, but which, however, is of such nature as to be subject to considerable use without excessive wear or getting out of order.

Another object is to provide a construction and arrangement in spring operated parts of the rifle whereby the springs may be readily removed and replaced in event of loss of tension.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the 8 Claims. (Cl. 89 147) 2 parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the rifle as seen in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a View in longitudinal vertical section, partly in elevation, with parts broken away of the gas pressure actuator Fig. 3 is a detail in cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation as seen on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows depicting a cartridge feeding mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section, partly in elevation, of the breech portion of the rifle showing the firing mechanism with the parts disposed in their normal position;

Fi 6 is a view in section and elevation taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the firing mechanism shown in- Fig. 5 with portions removed;

Fig. 8 is a detail in section and elevation taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a view in section and elevation as seen on the line 9-9 of Figs. 8 and 10 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section and plan view taken on the line Iii-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view in section and elevation taken on the line I l-ll of Fig. 5 as seen in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a View in section and elevation as seen on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 5 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a view in section and elevation taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 5 with portions removed;

Fig. 14 is a view in section and elevation of the firing mechanism showing the parts as disposed in a firing position on manual retraction of the trigger;

Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the parts in the firing position with the trigger retracted and the hammer advanced;

Fig. 16 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 15 as restored to their normal position on release of the trigger;

Fig. 17 is a view in section and elevation of the firing mechanism illustrating the automatic operation thereof;

Fig. 18 is a detail in plan and section taken on the line l8--IB of Fig. 5; a

Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the parts of Fig. 18 in a partly released position;

Fig. 26- is a view in section and elevation of the trigger and hammer mechanism showing the hammer in its cocked position.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, A. indicates the rifle barrel which is carried by a breech housing B fitted with a stock C. Arranged beneath the barrel A and extending longitudinally thereof in 'closep'roximity thereto is a cylindrical tube D constituting a housing for gas pressure actuating mechanism and which tube leads from adjacent the muzzle of the rifle barr l to the breech housing. The forward-end of the tube D is closed by a removable plug 25 and has its interior communicating with the interior of the rifle barrel by means of a nipple 26 which is screwed through thetube D and has a tapered end 21 which seats in and snugly fits a complementary tapered recess 28 on the underside of the barrel A. A port 29 leads from the interior of the barrel A an'd connects with a passage 32! in the nipple Z'BIeadi'ng t'o alate'rally opening port M in the latter opening to the tube D toward the rear end of thelatter. A strap 32 encompasses the barrel A and tube D to hold the nipple st in its seated engagement with the barrel.

Mounted within the tube D adjacent the nipple 26 is a piston 33 which is connected to a rod 34 extending longitudinally of the tube D axially thereof and leading into the housing B. The inner end portion of the rod 34 is journalled in ajbearin'g sleeve 35 mounted for oscillatory movement in a cap 33 supported on the outer end of the housing B. The inner end portion of the rod 34 slidably extends through a cartridge feeding cylinder E which is revoluble around the rod 34 and (is designed to be turned with a step by step movement 'by reciprocation of the rod 34. The mechanism for converting reciprocable move- 46 by a spring 48 which bears between a hub 29 on the ratchet ring and the outer end wall of the sleeve bearing the hub 49 having splines 5d engaged with channels 5| in the sleeve bearing 35 so that turning movement of the latter will eifect complementary movement of the ratchet ring l' while permitting reciprocal movement of the ratchet ring in and out of engagement with the ratchet 46.

A spiral spring 52 encompasses .theshaft 34 within the slide sleeve and bears between the ring :32 and the outer end of the turnable sleeve 37 which spring acts to normally retain the slide sleeve and its associated rod 34 and piston 33 in a forwardmost position and to yieldably oppose advance movement of the sleeve, rod and piston under the urge of gas pressure on the latter.

It will now be seen that rearward movement of the piston 33, rod 34 and slide sleeve 40 longitudinally of the tube D'as under the urge of gas pressure on the front end of the piston will act when the pins 65 engage the curved end portions fi l of the grooves '43 to effect turning of the sleeve 3'! apar'tial revolution. This movement of the sleeve 31 will be transmitted to the bearing sleeve 35 and ratchet ring 41 and to the ratchet 36 so as to effect partial revolution of the cylinder E. On release of the gas pressure the spring 52 will restore the piston, ,rod and slide sleeve, turnable sleeve, bearing sleeve and ratchet ring to normal in readiness for another operament of the rod 34 into intermittent rotary move- I ment of the cylinder E as illustrated in Fig. 2 embodies a, turnable sleeve 37 encompassing the rod 34 and ja't'tached to and carried by the bearing sleeve 35, being secured to the latter by screw threads ,33 and projecting outwardly therefrom. The .tu'rnable sleeve 37 is of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the tube D to provide a space .39 therearound into which extends the in= ner end of a slide sleeve 40 which projects outwardly from the outer end'of the sleeve 3?? and has its outer end connected to the shaft 3d as by a screw 65 passing through a ring %2 into engagement with the shaft 3 5. The outer face of the turnable sleeve '3? is formed with a series of longitudinally extending grooves 53 which extend for a major portion of their length from the outer end of the 'turnable sleeve parallel to the axis thereof and at their inner end portions are curved as indicated at M on a spiral contour; the spiral end portions 414 of the grooves t3 extending approximately one-fourth of the cirmum feren'ce of the sleeve 3?. The grooves 3 are engaged by pins '45 carried by the slide sleeve 40 which pins are adapted to traverse the straight and curved lengths of the grooves and when advancing in the curved portions of the latter cooperate therewith to effect turning movement of the turntable sleeve 37 'a partial revolution and thereby efi'ect corresponding turning movement of the bearingsleeve 35.

Thefforward end of the cylinder E is fitted with an annular ratchet 46 which is engaged by a ratchet ring 4'! slidably encircling the shaft 34 and normally held in engagement with the ratchet tion.

The intermittent rotary movement of the cylinder E is utilized in 'efiectin'g feeding of cartridges from a magazin F to the breech of the rifle barrel and to hold the cartridge in a firing position in line with the barrel breech and also eject the cartridge or its shell from the housing B.

As here shown in Fig. 4 the cartridge feeding magazine F embodies a revoluble drum 53 mounted in a casing '55 carriedby and projecting below the housing B. The drum .53 is provided with a series of radially extending cartridge receiving chambers 55 separated by partition 56 and which chambers open to the outer periphery or the drum 53 but are .closed by alc'ircumferential wall 53 of the housing 54 exceptas .to a slot 53 formed in the latter. The slot 58 opens to the interior of the housing B immediately beneath the cylinder E so that cartridges 59 may be 'discharged from the chambers 55 and delivered to cartridge receiving recesses 63 in the cylinder E. Cartridges 59 are ejected into engagement with the cylinder E by the action of springs 6i on followers 62 on which stacks of the cartridges are supported in the chambers '55.

In order that the cartridges will be delivered one at a time to the cylinder E each chamber 55 is formed of a width to support a single row of superimposed cartridges. The outer ends of the partitions 56 are formed with-yokcs 63.adapted to mesh gear fashion with the edges 64 of the walls extending longitudinally of the cylinder E between the cartridge receiving recesses so that as the'cylinder is revolved itwill act to eflect rotation of the drum-53. Cartridges are thus carried upwardly from the drum around the cylinder so as to successively position cartridges opposite the breech 65 of the rifle barrel. 'The h'ousing'B is formed with a side opening '66 through which cartridges ortheir shells will be discharged after passing the firin position.

The drum 53 is ,fixed on 'a'sha'ft a fitted with a handle I) by which the drum may be manually rotated when occasion requires.

Means are provided for delivering the cartridges from the cylinder E into the barrel breech and withdrawing the cartridges therefrom into and repositioning them in the recesses 60 of the cylinder under the action of the reciprocal rod 34. This means embodies a breech bolt indi cated generally at G arranged in the housing B and attached with a lost motion connection to 'rod 34 for reciprocal movement with the latter.

The breech bolt G embodies a cros head 6'! connected to the inner end of the rod 34 and from which extends a forwardly projecting tubular bolt 68 paralleling the rod 34 in spaced relation thereto and which bolt is arranged to move in and out of the uppermost cartridge conveying recess 69 of the cylinder E longitudinally thereof on reciprocation of the rod 3 3. The cross head El is formed with a chamber 69 into which the inner end of the rod 34 extends and formed on the end of the rod is a flange 16 which slidably engages a pin H carried by the back wall of the chamber 63 whereby the rod is held against rotation. The length of the chamber 69 exceeds that of the flange 10 so as to permit relative longitudinal movement of the breech bolt G and rod 34.

The cross head 61 is formed with a bore 12 in eccentric continuation of the bore of the bolt 58 and mounted in this bore and the bolt 68 is a reciprocal firing pin H the forward end of which terminates adjacent the forward end of the bolt 58 in a point 13. A spring 14 is Wound around the firing pin within the bore 12 and bears between a shoulder at the forward end of the latter and a shoulder on the firing pin to normally maintain the latter in a retracted position against a pin 75 carried by the cross head 61 and extending through an elongated slot 15 formed on the underside of the firing pin, The inner end of the firing pin projects a short distance from the cross head Bl in position to be struck by a hammer J.

Mounted on the upper portion of the bolt 68 and extending longitudinally thereof is an extractor embodying a plate spring 11 having a hook 18 on the forward end thereof extending slightly beyond the end of the bolt 68 for efiecting hooked engagement with the rim of a cartridge as indicated in Fig. 5. A plate spring 19 is carried on the rear portion of the bolt 68 and bears against the underside of the upper wall 0 of the housing B to stabilize the breech bolt G; the spring exerting a downward yieldable thrust on the breech bolt and seating the cross head 6'! 0n the rod 34 yet allowing required slight upward movement of the breech bolt permitted by a loose connection between the cross head and the rod. Suitable guide and supporting means for the breech bolt G may be provided in the housthe side walls 6 of the mounting, The jaws 80 extend astride therod 35 which rod is formed with notches 86 on opposite sides thereof to receive the jaws when the rod 34 is in its forwardmost position. The forward ends of the notches 86 are beveled as indicated at 81 to provide inclined planes which, when the rod 34 initially retracts, engage the inner faces of the jaws 80 to efiect spreading thereof out of engagement with the notches 33 on the bolt 68' and thereby release carriage G.

The hammer J is pivotally supported on-a pivot pin 88 carried by the side walls e of the mounting K and has attached to its lower rearward portion a spiral pull spring 89 connecting with an upstanding wall I in the rear portion of the mounting K which spring is adapted to normally maintain the hammer J in nearly its forwardmost position with its upper end abutting the firing pin H and with a projection 90 on the rearward lower end thereof abutting a stop pin 9i projecting laterally from a slide bar 92 supported on the bottom wall 9 0f the mounting K.

The slide bar S2 is formed with an' extensionSS on-its forward end which slidably projects into and is guided ina guide block 94 as particularly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. A spring 95 arranged in the guide block 94 bears against the outer end of the extension 93 of the slide bar 552 to normally maintain the latter in a retracted position. The slide bar is normally held in a slightly advanced position by means of a pawl 95 pivoted to swing vertically on a pivot pin 9'l.carried by the rear portion of the slide bar and which pawl is normally engaged under the dlge of a pull down spring 98 with an upstanding finger 99 on a trigger-operated rock shaft Hill. A pivot pin l Ell carried by the side walls e of the mounting K extends longitudinally through and affords a support for the rock shaft H38. A trigger I82 affixed to the rock shaft H39 leads downwardly through a. slot M3 in the bottom wall 9 of the mounting K; the trigger being fitted at its lower end with a pull link Hi l having an upturned outer end portion 15 for engagement by the finger of the operator.

The trigger m2 is fitted with an upstanding arm I 96 the upper end of which is connected to a coiled pull spring lb! attached to the wall f which spring operates to normally maintain the trigger H32 in its forwardmost position and the finger 99 in its rearwardmost position.

' The forward face of the arm M36 is curved out wardly to form a cam face 58 for engagement with the rearwardly curved end H89 of a slide bar I ll! supported upon the bottom wall 9 of the mounting K and shiftable longitudinally thereof.

The forward end of the slide bar I l!) is fitted with a projection I l i which extends into a guide block H2 whereina coil spring H3 bears against the outer end of the projection H2 and normally maintains the slide bar I ID in a retracted position.

The slide bar H5 is formed with a ledge [M which when the slide bar is in its normal retracted position underlies a forwardly protruding under-wall 555 of the hammer J to serve as an abutment to limit forward movement of the upper end of the hammer J until the trigger I32 has been pulled to a firing position.

Manual cocking of the hammer J may be effected on pulling the trigger M2 to cause the arms 99 and N35 to advance the slide bars 92 and H6 in which operation the pin 95 on the slide bar 92 engages the projection 993 on the lower end of the hammer J to swing the lower end of the hammer forwardl and the upper end thereof rearwardly, and which operation may be carried 7 out to efiect manual firing of the rifle as will presently be described.

To effect automatic firing of the rifle the rearward movement of the rod 34 and breechbolt G is utilized to effect retraction of the hammer J. For this purpose the rear wall of the cross head 61 is positioned in line with the front face of the hammer J normally in slightly spaced relation thereto so that as the breech bolt G moves rearwardlythe cross head will engage the hammer in a fashion to rock it rearwardly and downwardly. A detent spring L carried on the wall 1 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined tongue Hi the lower end of which is engageable with either of a pair of notches h and i.- on the outer end of the hammer J to momentarily retain the latter in its fully cooked position to which the hammer has been moved under the action of the rod 34 and beech bolt G; the walls of the notches h and i being inclined relative to the tip of the spring I I6 so as to afford only slight and easily overcome engagement withthe spring whereby the latter will act merely to delay initial striking movement of the hammer.

Formed on the lower portion of the front face of the hammer J is a knob II! which, when the hammer is in its fully cocked position, protrudes into the path of a lip II8 on the rear margin of the cross head 61 in such manner that on forward'movement of the cross head the lip II9 will strike the knob I I1 and force the outer end of the hammer fre of engagement with the detent spring L.

Means are provided for manuall moving the hammer J to its fully cocked position by manipulation of the rod 34 and the associated carriage G and cross head 61 which means is here shown as comprising a pull rod I I9 having a hooked forward end I20 engaged with the end of the rod 34 in the chamber 69; the rod I I9 extending rearwardly through the housing B and terminating in a head I2I adjacent the stock C in convenient reach of the operator. Since the rod H9 is connected to the rod 34 it will move therewith as the rifle fires automatically; the head I2I moving back and forth forward of the upper portion of the stock C.

In the operation of the invention to effect initial loading of the rifle, manual rotation of the drum 53 of the magazine F is effected as through the medium of the handle I) on the axle a of the I drum whereby the cylinder E will be caused to turn by reason of its gear engagement with the drum. This will cause cartridges engaged in the recesses of the cylinders on being fed thereto from the drum under the urge cf the spring 6I to advance with the cylinder. In this fashion a cartridge will be delivered to firing position in front of the breech ofthe rifle barrel. During this operation the breech bolt G is held in a retracted position with the bolt 68 clear of the cylinder by means of the pull rod H9; the operator holding the pull rod H9 and the. carriage G in a retracted position until the breech bolt is disposed opposite the breech 65, whereupon the operator gently releases the pull on the rod II9 so that the spring 52 in the tube D will advance the rod 34 and cause it to advance the breech bolt G and thus move the outer end of the bolt 68 into engagement with the butt end of the cartridge aligned therewith. Continued advance movement of the breech bolt will shove the cartridg from the cylinder into the breech where'the rim of the cartridge will be engaged by the hooked end I8 of the spring 11 or the extractor.

The parts will then be disposed as shown in Fig. 5 in readiness for firing operation. This is initially effected by pulling the trigger I32 to cause the slide bars 92 and III] to advance under the urge of the finger 99 and arm I96 on the trigger operated rock shaft I 09 so that the pin SI on the slide bar 92 acting on the projection 99 on the lower end of the hammer J will retract the latte-r in opposition to spring 89 to the position shown in Fig. 14, wherein the parts are shown as positioned immediately before release of the hammer J occurs. This release will be occasioned on slight continued retraction of the trigger I02 so as to free the pawl 96 from engagement by the finger 99 thus freeing the slide bar 92 and allowing it to suddenly move rearwardly under the urge of the spring 95 acting on the forward extension 93 of the slide bar. Rearward movement of the slide bar 92 retracts the pin 9| and frees the hammer J so that the spring 89 will act to forcibly pull the lower end of the hammer J rearwardly thereby advancing the upper end of the hammer and causing it to forcibly impact the inner end of the firing pin H. In the meantime the slide bar I III will have advanced sufiiciently to position the ledge I I4 thereon forward and clear of the underwall II5 of the hammer J thus permitting it to move forwardly and strike the firing pin. The parts Will then be positioned as shown in Fig. 15. Impact of the hammer J on the firing pin H will act to drive the latter forward in opposition to the spring 14 and will cause the point 13 to indent and explode the cap of the cartridge 59 seated in the rifle breech 65 thus eifecting a single shot operation of the rifle.

In the meantime the slide bar 92 in moving to its rearwardmost position disposes the pawl 96 thereon in readiness for re-engagement by the finger 99 which occurs on release of the trigger I02 and its restoration to its normal position shown in Figs. 5, 9 and 16 under the urge of the spring I 91 on the arm I96; the finger 99 lifting the pawl 96 in opposition to spring 98 on swinging upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 15 and passing beneath the outer end of the pawl so that the latter will be moved downwardly by the spring 98 in front of the finger 99. The arm I06, in moving rearwardly to its normal upright position will free the slide bar IIil which will then be moved rearwardly under the urge of the spring II3 to position the abutment I I4 thereon under the forwardly projecting underside I I5 of the hammer J, as shown in Fig. 16.

On firing of the rifle gas pressure is developed in the rifle barrel behind the bullet advancing therein until the bullet leaves the muzzle. In the interval of travel of the bullet past the port 29 in the barrel to its exit from the muzzle such gas pressure will be directed through the port 29, passage 39 and opening 3! into the tube D forward of the piston 33 and will act to retract the latter and the rod 34 in opposition to the spring 52.

Initial rearward movement of the rod 34 causes the inclined faces 8'! of the notches 86 on the rod to spread the jaws out of engagement with the notches in opposition to the springs 84, which action occurs while the inner end of the rod 34 is advancing in the space 69 in the cross-head 91, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19.

This spreading of the jaws 89 moves the outer end portions thereof out of engagement with the notches 83 in the bolt 68 thus freeing the latter so that when the inner end of the rod 34 strikes the cross-head 5'1 as shown in Fig. 19, the breech 9 bolt G including the cross-head and the bolt 68 will be moved rearwardly by and with the rod 34 so as to withdraw the forward portion of the bolt 68 out of its engaged position with the cylinder E thereby freeing the latter, as shown in Fig. 17; the bolt 68 being normally disposed in the uppermost cartridge receiving recess Ell of the cyl inder as shown in Fig. 5. Rearward movement of the bolt 68 acts through the hook it on the spring 71 to withdraw the cartridge 55 or its shell from breech 65 and to position it within the cylinder recess 60 when the bolt 68 is free or" the latter. When this occurs the pins d on the sleeve 40 will enter the curved portions 4c of the grooves 43 on the turnable sleeve 31 and will act to effect turning of the sleeve 3'! and thereby turn the cylinder E a partial revolution as previously described whereby the cartridge or shell engaged by the hook 18 of the extractor will be moved laterally out of engagement therewith and advanced toward the discharge opening 65 While a fresh cartridge carried in a succeeding recess 6% will be fed into engagement with the hook 73 which will occur when the cylinder E has been turned to move the succeeding recess 60 and its cartridge content into alignment with the breech 65 and with the forward end of the retracted bolt 63; the cartridges being previously positioned longitudinally in the recesses 69 from the magazine head as the drum 53 of the latter is turned step by step under the urge of the cylinder E as indicated in Fig. 4.

In the meantime the rearward movement of the breech bolt G will have caused the cross-head B! to advance against the forward upper portion of the hammer J and to shove the upper portion of the hammer rearwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 17.

Continued rearward movement of the breech bolt G with its cross-head 61 causes the latter to advance along and depress the hammer J to a position where the depending end N6 of the detent spring L will engage the notch h in the outer end of the hammer as shown in full lines in Fig. 17. The hammer J will then occupy a cocked position. The operation of thus cooking the hammer occurs during the interval of travel of the discharging bullet from passing of the port 29 until it emerges from the muzzle during which time the pressure of gas developed in the rifle barrel will be effective in fully retracting the breech bolt G and cocking the hammer thereby and also turning the cylinder E as recited. On ejection of the bullet from the muzzle the pressure of gas in the barrel is dissipated and accordingly the back pressure thereof on the piston 33 is relieved so that the then compressed spring 52 will act to advance the piston and rod to their forwardmost positions, thus restoring the breech bolt G to its normal position and releading the rifle breech as before described.

The return movement of the breech bolt G and its cross-head 67 is utilized to effect release of.

the hammer J and consequent automatic firing of the rifle when such operation is desired. However such operation is according to the will of the marksman and is dependent upon the posibolt G be ineffective in automatic firing of the rifle the trigger I02 is allowed to return to normal as before described and as shown in Figs. 5 and 16 This or is allowed to return to an intermediate position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 17. In either event when this is done while the hammer is in its cocked position as effected by breech bolt under the action of gas pressure as above described, the slide bar H0 is shifted rearwardly under the urge of the spring l l3 so that the ledge l is on the bar i it will move to a position beneath the extension $3 on the lower end of the hammer as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1'7 and as shown in full lines in Fig. 20. When the slide bar lie is thus positioned striking operation of the hammer J will be inhibited which condition will endure until the trigger is pulled to its rearwardmost position so as to shove the slide bar H0 forward sufiiciently far to remove the ledge H4 clear of the projection 90.

When the projection is blocked by the ledge H t, the cross-head 61 will advance to its normal position with the lip H8 riding over the knob III which action is permitted by reason of the breech bolt being movable vertically in opposition to the spring 79 suficient distance for the lip to'pass over the knob.

It will now be seen that at the stage of operation under consideration the hammer J will have been automatically cocked and the trigger will be held by the operator in the intermediate position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1'7. The rifle is then in readiness for firing at the will of the operator. It it is desired to withhold the fire the trigger may be released and allowed to return to normal leaving the hammer in its cocked position, but if it is desired to effect firing of the gun such is accomplished by pulling the trigger H52 from the intermediate position to its fully retracted position so as to advance the slide bar I 10 to move the ledge H4 free of the projection 90; the spring 89 then overcoming the action of the detent spring L and moving the hammer out of engagement therewith and causing it to impinge on the firing pin H,

In event automatic firing of the rifle is desired the operator pulls the trigger to its fully retracted position shown in Figs. 15 and 17 so as to free the hammer from the pin ill and ledge H 4 on the slide bars 92 and I!!! whereby on advance movementof the cross-head 61 from its fully retracted position shown in full lines in Fig. 17 the lip H8 thereon will strike the knob H1 on the hammer thereby'tripping the hammer free of its engagement by the detent spring and allowing the hammer to impact the firing pin H under the action of the spring 89, so as to explode a cartridge in the rifle breech as before described, In this operation the breech bolt G will advance to its forwardmost position seating a cartridge in the breech immediately in advance of the hammer.

It will now be seen that continued automatic firing of the rifle will occur as long as the trigger is held in its fully retracted position while the supply of "cartridges lasts to provide the gas pressure for operation of the piston 33 and its associated parts, that the automatic operation may be terminated and the rifle conditioned for a single fire operation by letting the trigger return to'normal or to its intermediate position, and that automatic operation may be restored at any time by pulling the trigger to its fully retracted position.

If at any time it becomes desirable to manually set the hammer in a fully cooked position such may be accomplished by imparting a pull on the rod I ll! whereby the breech bolt G will be re- :racted and the cross-head 5f! thereon t9 i p s the am r in o en a ement w th th letent sprin L as shown in Fig, .9. When the nammer is thus moved to its fr lly cocked posi- ;ion, with the trigger released, the extension 3E) )n the lower end of the hammer will engage the edge portion I 4 of the slide bar I in to advance he latter in opposition to the spring H3 where- )y the ledge will snap under the projection to 1016. the hammer in its blocked retracted posiion in readiness for firing. Likewise, event he trigger should be fully released during autos natic firing operations the hammer will become tutomatically locked in like fashion, whereby uch firing will immediately terminate on release if the trigger.

The pull rod may be utilized in loading the rifle ejecting cartridges r s el s theref om s n n effecting a pull thereon the rodfi and its as-v ociated parts will function the same though he rod were actuated by gas pressure.

It is to be noted that control the firing Q13: ration whether single or automatic lies in the rigger, and is effected by more or less pull on he trigger; the rifle functioning for single shot perations when the trigger is pulled to a fully etracted position and then allowed to return to 11 intermediate position, and operating as an utomatic repeater only when the trigger is pulled o and held in its fully retracted position for the esired interval of firing. calls for a sensie ive trigger action such that the. operator may eel by the pull of the triggeror resistanc to such -ull which action willfollow a change in posi-v ion of the trigger. This feel oi the trigger conrol is amplifiedby the provision of the pull link 64 whereby the draft of the tri ger ill 96 sfacted by rectilineal movement of the trigger fine er instead of with arcuate travel of the. finger as 'here the trigger is engaged directly. by the ser.

While the hammer is here shown as fitted with pair of notches h and 2', the nu Joel} oi'} s uch cliches may be n reased 9. 1 m ed t e e esirable however to. provide more han a single otch to insure the detent catching some one etch to give the desired delayed act oi t e ammel' during ap z iQllls z 9 remons.

Manifestly, cartridges may leafed-to the cylin- Br E by any a e means th r He h Par-w cular drum magazine here show since. con-= nual cartridge feeding clips, pelts,

nd. ke ,ay be employed, and which is not necessary to. 2 here shown. However, the employment of; the trtridge feed cylinder and associated mecha- .sm is desirable since it afiordseconomyin space 16, provides a, compact arrangement and; is hi h: efiicient. By the construction and arrange: .ent set forth the parts maybe readily f a tted and assembled are easily accessihle tor; re.- iir and replacement. While we have shown and described a specific nbodiment of our inventionwe do not limit ou 1;-, -lves to the exact details of construction. set rth, and the invention embraces such changes, odifications and equivalents offfilx e parts and .eir formation and arrangement as, comewithin. Le purview of the appended claims. We claim: 1. In a rifle, the combination of a hammer, a ck shaft, a trigger thereon, a, finger- 011 saidrock .aft, a slide bar, a l on said: slide bar. en- .geable with said finger for advancing. said. do bar on turning said tockshaft bygsaid trig:

ger and means on said sl e bar cooperable with flid hammer to move the'latter to a cooked position.

2. In a rifle, the combination of a hammer, a rock shaft, a trig er thereon, a finger on said rock shaft, a slide bar, a pawl on said slide bar engageable with said finger for advancing said slide bar on turning said rock shaft by said trigger, means on said slide bar cooperable with said hammer to move the latter to a cocked position, a second slide bar, a ledge on said second slide bar for inhibiting tripping of said hammer from its cocked position, and an arm on said rock shaft for advancing said last named slide bar to free said hammer under control of said trigger.

3. In a rifle, the combination of a hammer, a rock shaft; a trigger thereon, a finger on said rock shaft, a slide bar, a pawl on said slide bar engageable with said finger for advancing said slide bar on turning said rock shaft by said trigger, means on said slide bar cooperable with said hammer to, move the latter to a cocked position, a second slide bar, a ledge on said second slide bar for inhibiting tripping of said hammer from its cocked position, and an arm on said, rock shaft for advancing said last named slide bar to. free said hammer under control of said tri ger, and means operable to trip said hammer when the latter is freed from said ledge.

4. In a rifle having a mounting carrying a spring impelled hammer formed with a protruding underwall, a rock shaft on said mounting, and a trigger fixed on said rock shaft; a pair of slide bars on said mounting, springs for retracting said slide bars, hammer cocking means on one of said slide bars cooperable with the hammer to move it to a cocked position on advance of said slide bar, a ledge on the other slide bar arranged to underlie the protruding underwall of the hammer to limit its forward movement, independent means on said rock-shaft for advancing said slide bars in opposition to said springs, and means for freeing the advancing means of the hammer cocking slide bar to release the hammer.

5 In a rifle having a mounting carrying a spring impelled hammer formed with a protruding underwall, a rock-shaft on said mounting, and a trigger fixed on said rock-shaft; a hammer cocking slide bar in said housing, a, pawl on said slide bar, a finger on said rock-shaft releasably engageable with said pawl for advancing said slide and arranged to'disengage said pawl when the slide bar is in its advanced position, means on said slide bar cooperable with the hammer to move it to a cocked position on advance of said slide. bar, spring means for retracting said slide bar opposing advance thereof, a second slide bar, a ledge on said second slide bar underlying the protruding underwall ofthe hammer to limit its forward movement and arranged to free the ham-.

' mer on advance of said slide banan arm on said rock shaft for advancing said second slide bar, and spring means for retracting said second slide bar.

6 In a rifle-having a pivoted springimpelled hammer; a projection on said hammer, a hammer cocking slide bar, a pin on said slide barengageahle with said projection, a protruding underwall on said hammer, a hammer locking slide bar havinga ledge underlying said underwall, spring means normally retractin aid slide bars, a rock shaft, a trigger fixed on said rock shaft, a finger on said rock shaft, apawl on said hammer cockns sl d bar eleasably eneageabiewith aid net or ad anc n seidzs de ar. to cook and lease said hammer, and an arm on said rock shaft cooperating with said hammer locking slide bar to advance the latter.

7. In a rifle having a spring impelled hammer; a pair of parallel reciprocal slide bars mounted for independent movement relative to each other, springs normally urging said slide bars toward a retracted position, a trigger controlled rock-shaft, means on said rock-shaft associated with said slide-bars for simultaneously advancing them in opposition to their retracting springs, means on one of said slide bars engageable with said hammer for moving it to a cooked poistion, means embodied in the means for advancing said last named slide bar for automatically releasin said slide bar, said hammer being movable from its cocked position on release of said slide bar, and means on the other slide bar engageable by said hammer to limit its forward movement arranged to free the hammer when said other slide bar is in an advanced position.

8. In a rifle having a spring impelled pivoted hammer having an inner end portion and an outer end portion; a reciprocal slide-bar adjacent the inner end portion of the hammer, spring means for retracting said slide bar, a trigger actuated rockshaft, a finger on said rock-shaft, a pawl carried by said slide bar engageable with said finger operable to advance said slide bar on turnin said rock-shaft in one direction and to release said finger to free the slide bar when in its advanced position, a pin on said slide bar ar- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 319,596 Maxim June 9, 1885 430,211 Maxim June 17, 1890 681,737 Roth Sept. 3, 1901 1,042,007 Key Oct. 22, 1912 1,290,851 Sturgeon Jan. 7, 1919 1,402,459 Swebilius Jan. 3, 1922 1,460,800 Johnston July 3, 1923 1,964,634 Hayslip June 26, 1934 2,353,118 Schirokauer July 4, 1944 2,360,055 Hammond Oct. 10, 1944 

